Bleaching composition

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns the preservation of a perfume components in a bleaching composition. The bleaching composition is substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the enhancement of bleaching compositions thatare substantially devoid of peroxyl species.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The use of bleaching catalysts for stain removal has been developed overrecent years. The recent discovery that some catalysts are capable ofbleaching effectively in the absence of an added peroxyl source hasrecently become the focus of some interest, for example: WO9965905;WO0012667; WO0012808; WO0029537, and, WO0060045.

The shelf life of a product may be regarded as the period of time overwhich the product may be stored whilst retaining its required quality. Asatisfactory shelf life is in many instances a crucial factor for thesuccess of a commercial product. A product with a short shelf lifegenerally dictates that the product is made in small batches and israpidly sold to the consumer. It is also a concern to the owners of abrand with a short shelf life that the consumer uses the product withinthe shelf life otherwise the consumer may be inclined to change to asimilar product of another brand. In contrast a similar product with along shelf life may be made in larger batches, held as stock for alonger period of time and the period of time that a consumer stores theproduct is not of a great concern to the owners of a particular brand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bleachingcomposition that has improved storage properties.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

We have found that some components degrade per se and/or reduce theactivity of bleaching catalysts over a period of time. We have foundthat by carefully selecting certain components the stability of ableaching composition, which is substantially devoid of a peroxygenbleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system, isimproved. The present invention has particular utility in commercialliquid bleaching compositions.

The present invention provides a bleaching composition comprising:

(a) an organic substance which forms a complex with a transition metalfor bleaching a substrate with atmospheric oxygen, the bleachingcomposition upon addition to an aqueous medium providing an aqueousbleaching medium substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or aperoxy-based or peroxyl-generating bleach system,

(b) between 0.001 to 3 wt/wt % of a perfume composition said perfumecomposition comprising at least 0.01 wt % of an ketonic perfume, and

(c) an antioxidant in the range from 0.0001 to 20 wt/wt %,

(d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients to 100 wt/wt % of thetotal bleaching composition.

The term “substantially devoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-basedor peroxyl-generating bleach system” should be construed within spiritof the invention. It is preferred that the composition has as low acontent of peroxyl species present as possible. It is preferred that thebleaching formulation contains less that 1% wt/wt total concentration ofperacid or hydrogen peroxide or source thereof, preferably the bleachingformulation contains less that 0.3 % wt/wt total concentration ofperacid or hydrogen peroxide or source thereof, most preferably thebleaching composition is devoid of peracid or hydrogen peroxide orsource thereof. In addition, it is preferred that the presence of alkylhydroperoxides is kept to a minimum in a bleaching compositioncomprising the ligand or complex of the present invention.

The present invention extends to a method of bleaching asubstrate/textile with a composition of the present invention. Themethod comprising the steps of treating a substrate with the bleachingcomposition in an aqueous environment, rinsing the substrate and dryingthe substrate.

The present invention also extends to a commercial package together withinstructions for its use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Antioxicant

The bleaching compositions of the present invention will comprise aneffective amount of the antioxidant. An effective amount of anantioxidant is in the range 0.001 to 20 wt/wt % depending upon thenature of the antioxidant and subsidiary purpose of the antioxidant, forexample as a carrier or solvent. Preferably the antioxidant is presentin the range from 0.001 to 2 wt/wt %. When a phenolic antioxidant ispresent it is preferred that the phenolic antioxidant present in therange from 0.0001 to 3 % wt % of the composition. When an amineantioxidant it is present it is preferred that the phenolic antioxidantpresent in the range from 0.0001 to 20 % wt % of the composition.

Anti-oxidants are substances as described in Kirk-Othmers (Vol 3, pg424) and in Uhlmans Encyclopedia (Vol 3, pg 91).

One class of anti-oxidants suitable for use in the present invention isalkylated phenols having the general formula:

wherein R is C1-C22 linear or branched alkyl, preferably methyl orbranched C3-C6 alkyl; C3-C6 alkoxy, preferably methoxy; R1 is a C3-C6branched alkyl, preferably tert-butyl; x is 1 or 2. Hindered phenoliccompounds are preferred as antioxidant.

Another class of anti-oxidants suitable for use in the present inventionis a benzofuran or benzopyran derivative having the formula:

wherein R1 and R2 are each independently alkyl or R1 and R2 can be takentogether to form a C5-C6 cyclic hydrocarbyl moiety; B is absent or CH2;R4 is C1-C6 alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or —C(O)R3 wherein R3 is hydrogen orC1-C19 alkyl; R6 is C1-C6 alkyl; R7 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; X is—CH2OH, or —CH2A wherein A is a nitrogen comprising unit, phenyl, orsubstituted phenyl. Preferred nitrogen comprising A units include amino,pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, piperazino, and mixtures thereof.

Other suitable antioxidants are found as follows. A derivative ofα-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol,6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetra-methylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox™).

Anti-oxidants/radical scavengers such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) andits salts, tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherol sorbate, other esters oftocopherol, butylated hydroxy benzoic acids and their salts, gallic acidand its alkyl esters, especially propyl gallate, uric acid and its saltsand alkyl esters, sorbic acid and its salts, the ascorbyl esters offatty acids, amines (e.g., N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, amino-guanidine,amine alcohols), sulfhydryl compounds (e.g., glutathione), and dihydroxyfumaric acid-and its salts may be used.

Non-limiting examples of anti-oxidants suitable for use in the presentinvention include phenols inter alia 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol,2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, mixtures of 2 and3-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol, and other ingredients including includepropyl gallate, tert-butylhydroquinone, benzoic acid derivatives such asmethoxy benzoic acid, methylbenzoic acid, dichloro benzoic acid,dimethyl benzoic acid,5-hydroxy-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-3-one,5-hydroxy-3-methylene-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran,5-benzyloxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran,3-hydroxymethyl-5-methoxy-2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran,vitamin C(ascorbic acid), and Ethoxyquine(1,2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethylchinolin)marketed under the nameRaluquin™ by the company Raschig™.

Preferred antioxidants for use herein include 2,6-di-tert-butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT), α-tocopherol, hydroquinone,2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, 2,6-di-tert-butyl hydroquinone,2-tert-butyl hydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxy anisole, lignosulphonicacid and salt thereof, benzoic acid and derivatives thereof, likealkoxylated benzoic acids, as for example, trimethoxy benzoic acid(TMBA), toluic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, benzylamine, aminealcohols, 1,1,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane,N-propyl-gallate or mixtures thereof and highly preferred isdi-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene. Of the amine alcohols2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, tri-ethanol amine, tri-methanol amine,mono-ethanol amine, diethanol amine, are preferred.

Mixtures of antioxidants may be use and in particular mixtures that havesynergic antioxidant effects as found in, for example, WO02/072746.

Ketonic Purfumes

The bleaching composition of the present invention comprises between0.001 to 3 wt/wt % of a perfume composition, preferably between 0.1 to 2wt/wt % of a perfume composition. The perfume composition may be 100%ketonic perfume but generally the perfume composition is a complexmixture of perfumes of other differing perfume classifications, forexample terpenes and aldehydes; in this regard, the perfume compositioncomprises at least 0.01 wt % of a ketonic perfume. At higher levels ofketonic perfume the greater the importance of the antioxidant, forexample at least 0.1, 1.0 wt % and 5 wt % of a ketonic perfume componentof the perfume composition. The present invention has particular utilitywith, but not limited to, the following ketonic perfume components.

The Bleach Catalyst

Recently we have found that oily stains are bleached in the presence ofselected transition metal catalysts in the absence of an added peroxylsource. The bleaching of an oily stain in the absence of an addedperoxyl source has been attributed to oxygen derived from the air.Whilst it is true that bleaching is effected by oxygen sourced from theair the route in which oxygen plays a part is becoming understood. Inthis regard, the term “air bleaching” is used.

We have concluded from our research that bleaching of a chromophore inan oily stain is effected by products formed by adventitious oxidationof components in the oily stain. These products, alkyl hydroperoxides,are generated naturally by autoxidation of the oily stain and the alkylhydroperoxides together with a transition metal catalyst serve to bleachchromophores in the oily stain. Alkyl hydroperoxides (ROOH) aregenerally less reactive that other peroxy species, for example, peracids(RC(O)OOH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), percarbonates and perborates. Inthis regard, the phrase “for bleaching a substrate with atmosphericoxygen” is synonymous with “for bleaching a substrate via atmosphericoxygen” because it is the oxygen in the air that provides the bleachingspecies used by catalyst to bleach the substrate stain.

The bleach catalyst per se may be selected from a wide range oftransition metal complexes of organic molecules (ligands). In typicalwashing compositions the level of the organic substance is such that thein-use level is from 0.05 μM to 50 mM, with preferred in-use levels fordomestic laundry operations falling in the range 1 to 100 μM. Higherlevels may be desired and applied in industrial textile bleachingprocesses.

Suitable organic molecules (ligands) for forming complexes and complexesthereof are found, for example in:

GB 9906474.3; GB 9907714.1; GB 98309168.7, GB 98309169.5; GB 9027415.0and GB 9907713.3;

DE 19755493; EP 999050; WO-A-9534628; EP-A-458379;

EP 0909809; U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,455;

WO-A-98/39098; WO-A-98/39406, WO 9748787, WO 0029537;

WO 0052124, and WO0060045 the complexes and organic molecule (ligand)precursors of which are herein incorporated by reference. An example ofa preferred catalyst is a transition metal complex of MeN4Py ligand(N,N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,1-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1-aminoethane).

The ligand forms a complex with one or more transition metals, in thelatter case for example as a dinuclear complex. Suitable transitionmetals include for example: manganese in oxidation states II-V, ironII-V, copper I-III, cobalt I-III, titanium II-IV, tungsten IV-VI,vanadium II-V and molybdenum II-VI.

An example of a preferred catalyst is a monomer ligand or transitionmetal catalyst thereof of a ligand having the formula (I):

wherein each R is independently selected from: hydrogen, F, Cl, Br,hydroxyl, C1-C4-alkylO—, —NH—CO—H, —NH—CO—C1-C4-alkyl, —NH2,—NH—C1-C4-alkyl, and C1-C4-alkyl;

R1 and R2 are independently selected from:

C1-C4-alkyl,

C6-C10-aryl, and,

a group containing a heteroatom capable of coordinating to a transitionmetal, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is the group containing theheteroatom;

R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl,C1-C8-alkyl-O—C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-alkyl-O—C6-C10-aryl, C6-C10-aryl,C1-C8-hydroxyalkyl, and —(CH2)_(n)C(O)OR5 wherein R5 is independentlyselected from: hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl, n is from 0 to 4, and mixturesthereof; and,

X is selected from C═O, —[C(R6)₂]_(y)- wherein Y is from 0 to 3 each R6is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, C1-C4-alkoxy andC1-C4-alkyl.

The transition metal complex preferably is of the general formula (AI):[M_(a)L_(k)X_(n)]Y_(m)in which:

M represents a metal selected from Mn(II)-(III)-(IV)-(V),Cu(I)-(II)-(III), Fe (II)-(III)-(IV)-(V), (V),Mo(II)-(III)-(IV)-(V)-(VI) and W(IV)-(V)-(VI), preferably fromFe(II)-(III)-(IV)-(V);

L represents the ligand, preferablyN,N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,1-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1-aminoethane, or itsprotonated or deprotonated analogue;

X represents a coordinating species selected from any mono, bi or tricharged anions and any neutral molecules able to coordinate the metal ina mono, bi or tridentate manner;

Y represents any non-coordinated counter ion;

a represents an integer from 1 to 10;

k represents an integer from 1 to 10;

n represents zero or an integer from 1 to 10;

m represents zero or an integer from 1 to 20.

Balance Carriers and Adjunct Ingredients

These are generally surfactants, builders, foam agents, anti-foamagents, solvents, and enzymes. The use and amounts of these componentsare such that the bleaching composition performs depending uponeconomics, environmental factors and use of the bleaching composition.

The air bleach catalyst may be used in a detergent compositionspecifically suited for stain bleaching purposes, and this constitutes asecond aspect of the invention. To that extent, the compositioncomprises a surfactant and optionally other conventional detergentingredients. The invention in its second aspect provides an enzymaticdetergent composition which comprises from 0.1-50% by weight, based onthe total detergent composition, of one or more surfactants. Thissurfactant system may in turn comprise 0-95% by weight of one or moreanionic surfactants and 5 to 100% by weight of one or more nonionicsurfactants. The surfactant system may additionally contain amphotericor zwitterionic detergent compounds, but this in not normally desiredowing to their relatively high cost. The enzymatic detergent compositionaccording to the invention will generally be used as a dilution in waterof about 0.05 to 2%.

In general, the nonionic and anionic surfactants of the surfactantsystem may be chosen from the surfactants described “Surface ActiveAgents” Vol. 1, by Schwartz & Perry, Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 bySchwartz, Perry & Berch, Interscience 1958, in the current edition of“McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents” published by ManufacturingConfectioners Company or in “Tenside-Taschenbuch”, H. Stache, 2nd Edn.,Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981.

Suitable nonionic detergent compounds which may be used include, inparticular, the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobicgroup and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols,acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethyleneoxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic detergentcompounds are C₆-C₂₂ alkyl phenol-ethylene oxide condensates, generally5 to 25 EO, i.e. 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, and thecondensation products of aliphatic C₈-C₁₈ primary or secondary linear orbranched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 5 to 40 EO.

Suitable anionic detergent compounds which may be used are usuallywater-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonateshaving alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms,the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acylradicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds aresodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained bysulphating higher C₈-C₁₈ alcohols, produced for example from tallow orcoconut oil, sodium and potassium alkyl C₉-C₂₀ benzene sulphonates,particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl C₁₀-C₁₅ benzene sulphonates;and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers ofthe higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and syntheticalcohols derived from petroleum. The preferred anionic detergentcompounds are sodium C₁₁-C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulphonates and sodiumC₁₂-C₁₈ alkyl sulphates. Also applicable are surfactants such as thosedescribed in EP-A-328 177 (Unilever), which show resistance tosalting-out, the alkyl polyglycoside surfactants described in EP-A-070074, and alkyl monoglycosides.

Preferred surfactant systems are mixtures of anionic with nonionicdetergent active materials, in particular the groups and examples ofanionic and nonionic surfactants pointed out in EP-A-346 995 (Unilever).Especially preferred is surfactant system that is a mixture of an alkalimetal salt of a C₁₆-C₁₈ primary alcohol sulphate together with a C₁₂-C₁₅primary alcohol 3-7 EO ethoxylate.

The nonionic detergent is preferably present in amounts greater than10%, e.g. 25-90% by weight of the surfactant system. Anionic surfactantscan be present for example in amounts in the range from about 5% toabout 40% by weight of the surfactant system.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that some adventitious peroxylspecies may be in the composition nevertheless it is most preferred thatthe bleaching composition of the present invention has less that 1%,preferably less than 0.1%, most preferably less than 0.01%, of a peroxylspecies present. These adventitious peroxyl are predominantly alkylhydroperoxides formed by autoxidation of the surfactants.

The detergent composition may take any suitable physical form, such as apowder, granular composition, tumble dryer sheet, tablets, a paste or ananhydrous gel.

The composition may contain additional enzymes as found in WO 01/00768A1 page 15, line 25 to page 19, line 29, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference.

Builders, polymers and other enzymes as optional ingredients may also bepresent as found in WO0060045.

Suitable detergency builders as optional ingredients may also be presentas found in WO0034427.

The composition of the present invention may be used for laundrycleaning, hard surface cleaning (including cleaning of lavatories,kitchen work surfaces, floors, mechanical ware washing etc.). As isgenerally known in the art, bleaching compositions are also employed inwaste-water treatment, pulp bleaching during the manufacture of paper,leather manufacture, dye transfer inhibition, food processing, starchbleaching, sterilisation, whitening in oral hygiene preparations and/orcontact lens disinfection.

In the context of the present invention, bleaching should be understoodas relating generally to the decolourisation of stains or of othermaterials attached to or associated with a substrate. However, it isenvisaged that the present invention can be applied where a requirementis the removal and/or neutralisation by an oxidative bleaching reactionof malodours or other undesirable components attached to or otherwiseassociated with a substrate. Furthermore, in the context of the presentinvention bleaching is to be understood as being restricted to anybleaching mechanism or process that does not require the presence oflight or activation by light.

Liquid Formulation

The present invention has particular utility for liquid formulationsbecause in contrast to a solid heterogeneous mixture in a liquidformulation the contact between individual components are more intimateand hence more susceptible to degradation due to interaction ofcomponents.

There are many commercial liquid formulations for detergents and rinseconditioners or other liquid products that may be enhanced by conferringa bleaching ability to the liquid formulation. As will be evident to oneskilled in the art the present invention is applicable to known liquidformulations and liquid formulations to be developed.

The level of the catalyst in a commercial bleaching composition is from0.0001 to 0.6 wt/wt %, preferably 0.001 to 0.15 wt/wt %, most preferably0.01 to 0.1 wt/wt %. We have found that the level of catalyst is optimumbetween 0.03 to 0.09 wt/wt % in the commercial bleaching composition.

The present invention extends to both isotropic and complex liquidcompositions and formulations a brief discussion of which follows. Someisotropic formulations are termed ‘micro-emulsion’ liquids that areclear and thermodynamically stable over a specified temperature range.The ‘micro-emulsion’ formulation may be water in oil, or oil in wateremulsions. Some liquid formulations are macro-emulsions that are notclear and isotropic. Emulsions are considered meta-stable. Concentrated,clear compositions containing fabric softening actives have beendisclosed in WO 98/08924 and WO 98/4799, both Procter & Gamble. Suchcompositions comprise biodegradable fabric conditioners. However, bothdisclose compositions comprising water miscible solvents that do notform water-in-oil micro-emulsions. Clear fabric conditioningcompositions have also been disclosed in EP 730023 (Colgate Palmolive),WO 96/19552 (Colgate Palmolive), WO 96/33800 (Witco Co.), WO 97/03170(Procter & Gamble), WO 97/03172 (Procter & Gamble), WO 97/03169 (Procter& Gamble), U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,636 (Quest Int.) and U.S. Pat. No.5,427,697 (Procter & Gamble). Liquid formulations of the presentinvention may contain for example; monoethoxy quats; AQAs and bis-AQAs;cationic amides; cationic esters; amino/diamino quats; glucamide; amineoxides; ethoxylated polyethyleneimines; enhancement polymers of the formlinear amine based polymers, e.g. bis-hexamethylenetriamine; polyaminese.g. TETA, TEPA or PEI polymers.

The liquid may be contained within a sachet as found in WO02/068577.

The following is an example of a liquid bleaching composition to whichan organic substance which forms a complex with a transition metal forbleaching a substrate with atmospheric oxygen may be added togetherfurther antioxidant if required. The perfume composition as found in thefollowing example comprising at least 0.01 wt % of an ketonic perfume.Ingredient Wt % Nonionic surfactant 26.6 Monopropylene glycol 5.5Pigment premix 0.017 Glycerol 21.36 Monoethanolamine 7.56 Oleic fattyacid 13.10 Water Up to 100 Linear alkyl benzene sulfonate 20.1 Perfume1.6 Protease Enzyme 1.0

The following are further examples of commercial liquid formulationsthat the present invention may be incorporated into: Wisk™ liquid USA,1999, OMO™ liquid NL, 1999, OMO-liquido™ Brazil, 1999, and Rinseconditioner (Robijn™-NL). In this regard, that catalyst is added and thelevel of antioxidant adjusted together with the perfume composition.

The following is a further example of a commercial liquid formulationthat the present invention may be incorporated into by adding thecatalyst and the appropriate level of antioxidant and perfumecomposition. The commercial liquid formulation has a pH of 7. Sodiumcitrate:  3.2% Polypropylene glycol: 4.75% LAS-acid:  5.6% NI 25 9 EO: 6.6% LES (anionic sufactant): 10.5% Borax: 2.30% Sorbitol: 3.35%Alcosperce 725: 0.30% Coconut fatty acid: 0.73% monoethanolamine: 0.20%fluorescer: 0.125%  savinase/lipex perfume/dye

It is most preferred that when the catalyst is in a liquid composition,the liquid composition has a pH of 7 or below irrespective of whetherperfumes and/or antioxidants are present or not.

Experimental

The following catalyst (bleach component) was used in the experiments9,9-dihydroxy-2,4-di-(2-pyridyl)-3-methyl-7-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-3,7-diaza-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1,5-dicarboxylateIron (II) dichloride was prepared as described by Heidi Borzel, PeterComba, Karl S. Hagen, Yaroslaw D. Lampeka, Achim Lienke, Gerald Linti,Michael Merz, Hans Pritzkow, Lyudmyla V. Tsymbal in Inorganica ChimicaActa 337 (2002) 407-419. WO0248301 provides synthetic details of similarcompounds.

Liquid compositions containing 0.06% wt/wt of a bleach component and0.03 to 0.06% wt/wt of individual perfume components are stored in glassvials for 14 days at 37° C. in a cabinet.

The activities of the bleach component were determined at 40° C. in aH2O2 containing NaH2PO4.H2O pH7 buffer and Acid Blue 45 (CAS No.2861-02-1) as substrate using the following protocol.

Samples of 70 mg liquid were diluted in 10.00 ml MilliQ water. We added45 μl of this solution to an assay of 230 μL containing 20 mM H2O2, 75μM Acid blue 45 and 54 mM NaH2PO4.H2O pH7 buffer.

The solutions were mixed and pre-incubated for 1 min at 40° C. Thechanges in absorbance at 600 nm were measured for 8 min at 40° C. usinga spectrophotometer.

The absolute changes in absorbance were correlated to activitiesobtained with freshly prepared calibration samples.

The following liquids compositions A and B were use for the perfumecompatibility experiments in which made up to 100% with water.

Liquid composition A:

6% LAS

6% sLES 3 EO

6% Nonionic 7 EO

0.016% Antibacterial Agent

3.35% sorbitol

2.30% Borax.10 H2O

4.75% Mono propylene glycol

0.75% NaOH

0.4% Enzyme

pH 7

Liquid composition B:

6% LAS

6% sLES 3 EO

6% Nonionic 7 EO

0.016% Antibacterial Agent

3.35% sorbitol

2.30% Borax.10 H2O

4.75% Mono propylene glycol

0.75% NaOH

0.4% Enzymes

pH 7 TABLE 1 Influence of 0.06% perfume component and 0.05% BHT on thestability of 0.03% bleach component in liquid A after 3 weeks storage at37° C. Liquid A and no Liquid A + 0.05% Perfume component BHT BHT(0.06%) Activity (%) Activity (%) No perfume 42 — component Pulegone 463 Vertofix coeur 13 64

TABLE 2 Influence of 0.06% perfume component and 0.05% BHT on thestability of 0.03% bleach component in liquid B after 3 weeks storage at37° C. Liquid B and no Liquid B + 0.05% Perfume component BHT BHT(0.06%) Activity (%) Activity (%) No Perfume 45 — component Pulegone 372 alpha methylionone 28 66

TABLE 3 influence of 0.05% BHT on the stability of 0.06% perfumecomponent in liquid B after 2 weeks storage at 37° C. Liquid B + LiquidB + 0.03% bleach 0.03% bleach Perfume catalyst A and catalyst A andcomponent Liquid B no BHT. 0.05% BHT. (0.06%) Activity (%) Activity (%)Activity (%) Pulegone 82 50 88 alpha — 64 74 methylionone

1. A bleaching composition comprising: (a) an organic substance whichforms a complex with a transition metal for bleaching a substrate withatmospheric oxygen, the bleaching, composition upon addition to anaqueous medium providing an aqueous bleaching medium substantiallydevoid of a peroxygen bleach or a peroxy-based or peroxyl-generatingbleach system, (b) between 0.001 to 3 wt/wt % of a perfume compositionsaid perfume composition comprising at least 0.01 wt % of an ketonicperfume, and (c) an antioxidant in the range from 0.0001 to 20 wt/wt %,(d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients to 100 wt/wt % of thetotal bleaching composition.
 2. A bleaching composition according claim1, wherein the antioxidant is selected from: (i) an phenolicantioxidant, the phenolic antioxidant present in the range 0.0001 to 3 %wt %; and, (ii) an amine antioxidant, the amine antioxidant in the rangefrom 0.0001 to 20%.
 3. A bleaching composition according claim 2,wherein the amine antioxidant is an amine alcohol.
 4. A bleachingcomposition according to claim 3, wherein the amine alcohol is selectedfrom the group consisting of: 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, tri-ethanolamine, tri-methanol amine, mono-ethanol amine, diethanol amine, andmethylanthranilate.
 5. A bleaching composition according to claim 2,wherein the antioxidant is a hindered phenol.
 6. A bleaching compositionaccording to claim 5, wherein the antioxidant is selected from the groupconsisting of: 2,6-di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene, α-tocopherol,Ethoxyquine and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetra-methylchroman-2-carboxylic acid,and lignosulphonic acid.
 7. A bleaching composition according to claim6, wherein the antioxidant is 2,6-di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene.
 8. Ableaching composition according to claim 1, wherein the antioxidant isascorbic acid.
 9. A bleaching composition according to claim 5, whereinthe antioxidant is present in the bleaching composition in the rangefrom 0.001 to 2 wt %.
 10. A bleaching composition according to claim 1,wherein the bleaching composition is a liquid.
 11. A bleachingcomposition according to claim 1, comprising between 0.1 to 2 wt/wt % ofa perfume composition.
 12. A bleaching composition according to claim 1,wherein said perfume composition comprises at least 0.1 wt % of aketonic perfume.
 13. A bleaching composition according to claim 12,wherein said perfume composition comprises at least 1.0 wt % of aketonic perfume.
 14. A bleaching composition according to claim 13,wherein the perfume composition comprises at least 5 wt % of a ketonicperfume.
 15. A bleaching composition according to claim 1, wherein thebleaching composition is a solid bleaching composition.
 16. A bleachingcomposition according to claim 1, wherein the ketonic perfume isselected from the group consisting of: pulegone, vertofix coeur,veloutone, alpha-methylionone, and damascenone.
 17. A method ofbleaching a textile stain, comprising the steps of treating a substratewith the bleaching composition as defined in claim 1 in an aqueousenvironment, rinsing the substrate and drying the substrate.